Chapter 7: Penelope
"Little brother, is this really delicious? It's not even sweet," a pretty blonde girl asked, approaching with a curious look.
Hey, hey, hey—I'm right here, you know. Can't you complain directly to me? Alexander silently grumbled to himself. He replied with a slight edge, "Don't you think most ice cream is too sweet? Besides, if you care about keeping in shape, something with less sugar is a better choice."
He hadn't even finished his sentence before something caught his attention. This girl—there were faint magical traces on her.
Race: Wizard
Strength: 6 (Normal human limit is 10)
Constitution: 19 (Normal human limit is 10)
Magic Power: 15 (Normal human limit is 10)
Skills: Charms Lv1 (9%), Potions Lv1 (5%), Transfiguration Lv1 (3%), Herbology Lv1 (1%), Astronomy Lv1 (2%), Defense Against the Dark Arts Lv1 (1%)
(Other mundane skills like reading and cooking omitted.)
She's already stronger than when I first arrived in this world, Alexander thought. But most magical power in this world increases with age. She's older than me, so this is expected.
Still, in terms of raw strength, few can match me—unless they're giant hybrids or have some rare magical heritage. My system has enhanced every physical and magical stat across the board.
Wizards in this world typically have higher vitality and magic resistance compared to regular humans. However, their weaknesses remain—strike the heart or the brain, and they're still done for. Unlike me, they don't have full resistance stacked across the board.
Agility and speed? They depend on a mix of strength and constitution.
The girl's face flushed. "How long are you planning to stare?"
Alexander blushed, caught off guard. But he wasn't one to back down. "You a Hogwarts student? Haven't enrolled yet, right? School starts on September first—it's in two days. Shouldn't you be at home preparing instead of teasing kids in the streets?"
"How do you know that? Do I look like a witch to you? Is your family magical?" she asked, a twinkle in her eye. "I'm sorry—I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Penelope Clearwater. You can call me Penny."
Penelope Clearwater... Percy Weasley's future girlfriend? Alexander thought. That tracks. She's in the same year as him, and Percy becomes a prefect when Harry enters Hogwarts, which means they're both four years older than me.
But wait—wasn't she supposed to have long curly hair? I didn't expect her to be a blonde beauty. Not bad. Definitely a Ravenclaw type—already previewing her textbooks.
"I saw you in Diagon Alley," Alexander said smoothly, shifting the conversation. "Name's Alexander Smith. I'm from a wizarding family. Just curious—have you tried casting magic yet?"
"I've tried a few spells at home," Penelope replied, a little embarrassed, reminding him of Hermione's tone. "Just basic stuff, but they worked."
They chatted more about Diagon Alley, and Alexander patched up the final gaps in his cover story. Before leaving, they agreed to meet again over the next couple of days to talk more about magic.
When Alexander got home, he chuckled to himself. Who would've thought a shut-in like me could be so good at small talk?
Still... something felt off. In Deathly Hallows, when Hermione disguised herself as a pure-blood, didn't she use the name "Penelope Clearwater"? Was that just a random pick, like how Harry made up "Vernon Dudley"? Or is Penelope also Muggle-born?
But she was attacked and petrified by the Basilisk in second year, right? The Basilisk only targets Muggle-borns… unless it was an accident?
There's no definitive answer in the books about her blood status, though. Ah well. Relationships go to whoever acts first. Percy, looks like you're single now.
The next two days flew by. Alexander had never liked crowded places, but now, hanging out in the ice cream shop felt... different. At first, he forced himself to go for the food and to hone his detective instincts.
Now? It was more about friendship.
Penelope probably saw him as a cute, well-read kid who knew a lot about the wizarding world. "Alexander," she asked one afternoon, "I'm worried. I've never learned magic before. What if I…"
"Don't worry," he interrupted gently. "Most kids your age haven't learned anything either. I'm an exception, not the rule. Most eleven-year-olds in the magical world haven't had any formal education. They don't even get wands until school starts. Unlike Muggles, who go through primary school, wizard kids just rely on what their families teach them."
"I see... I read in Hogwarts: A History about the four Houses. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. How are they sorted?" Penelope asked, blushing slightly.
"It depends on personality," Alexander explained. "Gryffindor values bravery. Their emblem is a lion. But honestly, they're reckless and impulsive—always in trouble."
"Hufflepuff? The badger. They say they like honest, hardworking types, but really, they accept just about anyone. They're the friendliest House, closest to the kitchens, and their common room is super cozy."
"Ravenclaw—your House, I bet. Emblem's an eagle. They admire intelligence. Very picky. You'd fit right in, Penelope. Though they tend to be a bit anti-social. Other students call them the 'Nerd House' since they're always studying."
"And then there's Slytherin," he added darkly. "They favor ambition and blood purity. Emblem's a snake. They've got a bad rep, but it's not entirely undeserved. Most Slytherins care more about results than ethics. They're the backbone of the Ministry of Magic... and of Azkaban's permanent residents."
"Gryffindors are usually just visiting Azkaban—detained for fights or foolishness."
"Ravenclaws? Economic criminals or magic experiment disasters."
"Hufflepuffs? Mixed bag. Lots of students, but not too many dark wizards."
"Merlin, I've never read any of this in books," Penelope whispered in awe.
"Some truths don't make it into books," Alexander said with a smirk. "Slytherins claim to be aristocrats, owning most of the wizarding world's resources. They wield influence everywhere. And when they do land in trouble, it's rarely in books."
"If you really want the truth, check old Daily Prophet archives and look at the data."
He took a bite of his ice cream, savoring it. He felt strangely proud, having taught Penelope something real about the magical world. Maybe it would save her from heartache or danger one day.
Though... she always seemed to show up right when he was around. Coincidence? Or did she look up wizarding social norms and tailor her approach?
Ravenclaw, after all.
At least she didn't press about his age again.
Penelope's pretty face and kind personality made her easy to talk to. In his previous life, Alexander had sworn off dating until university. He imagined falling in love during his college years, not middle school.
But the sudden transmigration had changed everything.
Love... what kind of magic is the strongest magic in this world, anyway?
They chatted until dusk, then parted ways. Before leaving, they agreed to write each other frequently once Penelope entered Hogwarts.
After she left, Alexander stopped visiting the ice cream shop as often.
On the rare occasions he did return, he heard the boss grumbling that business had plummeted since Alexander stopped coming by.
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